Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), commonly known as Manipal University, is a private deemed-to-be university in Manipal, Karnataka, ranked #3 among universities in NIRF 2025, the first private institution to enter the top three. Founded around its medical college in 1953 and granted deemed-university status, it is strong across medicine, engineering, dental, pharmacy, and management, admitting through NEET for medicine and MET for engineering. About {{COLLEGE_COUNT}} colleges in our database are comparable institutions.
The defining feature is its multi-college depth: MAHE is a cluster of strong constituent institutions, including Kasturba Medical College (KMC), the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), the Manipal College of Dental Sciences, and the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, several of which rank in the national top 10 of their discipline. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation and Institute of Eminence status.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Manipal Academy of Higher Education |
| Common name | Manipal University |
| Founded | 1953 (Kasturba Medical College, the first private medical college in India) |
| Type | Private deemed-to-be university; Institute of Eminence |
| Location | Manipal, Udupi district, Karnataka |
| Key constituents | KMC (medicine), MIT (engineering), MCODS (dental), MCOPS (pharmacy), TAPMI (management) |
| Admission | NEET (medicine), MET (engineering), national tests for others |
| MIT B.Tech fee | ~₹2.11 lakh to ₹3.43 lakh per year by specialisation |
| MIT 2024 placements | Average ~₹10.49 LPA; highest ~₹51.03 LPA; 73% placed |
| NIRF 2025 | University #3, Overall #14; KMC Medical #10, Dental #5, Pharmacy #8 |
| Official website | manipal.edu |
[Source: MAHE official site (institutional facts); NIRF India Rankings 2025; documented MIT Manipal 2024 placement figures; MIT fee structure.]
| Programme | Approximate annual fee |
|---|---|
| MIT B.Tech (by specialisation) | ~₹2.11 lakh to ₹3.43 lakh |
| Hostel | ~₹1.1 lakh (non-AC) to ₹2 lakh (AC), with mess |
| Caution deposit (B.Tech, refundable) | ₹10,000 |
| Scholarships | Up to 50% tuition for top MET rankers |
[Source: MIT Manipal fee structure. Medical and dental fees differ and are set by their respective colleges.]
Engineering fees vary by specialisation, with computer-science branches at the top of the range; medical and dental fees are separate and higher.
Manipal is effectively a university township in coastal Karnataka.
Manipal began with Kasturba Medical College in 1953, the first private medical college in India, founded by Dr. T.M.A. Pai, and grew into a full university town. Manipal Academy of Higher Education was constituted as a deemed-to-be university and is now an Institute of Eminence, with campuses beyond Manipal as well.
The Manipal campus is effectively a university township, with constituent colleges across medicine, engineering, dental, pharmacy, allied health, management, and humanities. Degrees are awarded by MAHE as a deemed university, and it holds NAAC A++ accreditation.
In NIRF 2025, MAHE became the first private institution to break into the top three of the University category, ranking #3, with several constituent colleges in the national top 10 of their disciplines.
Four points stand out for an applicant comparing top private universities.
The first private institution in the top three in 2025
KMC Medical #10 and dental #5 nationally
Medicine, engineering, dental, pharmacy, and management on one campus system
Among the select institutions granted IoE status
Honest caveat: strength varies by constituent college. Medicine, dental, and pharmacy rank in the national top 10, while the Manipal Institute of Technology sits lower in the Engineering category (around #59), and its 2024 B.Tech placement rate was about 73%, so engineering applicants should weigh branch and cost.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | University | 2025 | #3 |
| NIRF | SDG Institutions | 2025 | #5 |
| NIRF | Overall | 2025 | #14 |
| NIRF | Research | 2025 | #19 |
26 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
1-year placement history, latest data from 2024.
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
Yes. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is the legal name; "Manipal University" is the common name people use for the deemed university at Manipal, Karnataka.
MET is the Manipal Entrance Test, the entrance for B.Tech admission to the Manipal Institute of Technology. Medical admission (MBBS, BDS) is through NEET, not MET.
MIT Manipal B.Tech tuition ranges from about ₹2.11 lakh to ₹3.43 lakh per year by specialisation, with hostel additional. Top MET rankers can get up to 50% tuition scholarship.
For 2024, MIT Manipal reported an average B.Tech package of about ₹10.49 LPA and a highest of about ₹51.03 LPA, with around 73% of the batch placed across 220-plus companies.
Yes. Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Manipal ranks #10 in NIRF Medical 2025, and the Manipal College of Dental Sciences ranks #5 in Dental, among the strongest private medical and dental colleges.
In NIRF 2025, MAHE ranks #3 among universities (the first private institution in the top three) and #14 Overall, with several constituent colleges in the national top 10 of their disciplines.
Last reviewed: May 21, 2026. Next scheduled review: August 2026, after the 2026 admission cycle and any NIRF 2026 release.
